But if you’re a gay Australian man who wants PrEP, or a woman at high-risk, there are affordable and even free ways to access it.

Note: PrEP is different to PEP. PEP is a post-exposure prophylaxis, which can be effective up to 72 hours after a sexual encounter. PEP is available 24/7 from hospitals and medical centres around Australia (Call 1800 737 669 for more information).

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Comment: How PrEP changed my life

"The reality is that gay men don’t use condoms one hundred percent of the time. Breakages happen, people get drunk, and some simply prefer not to use them. Those are people we need to support, not shame," writes Brandon Cook.

1.Get a prescription and purchase over the counter

This is an astoundingly expensive way to get PrEP, even if it's the most reliable.

Ruth McNair, a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and part of their sexual health special interest group, said all Australian GP's have the ability to proscribe PrEP, though some may not have heard of the drug before.

To find a GP who is well aware of PrEP we recommend googling and calling your nearest sexual health clinic, or your state or territory’s HIV/AIDS council or LGBT+ health group.

“We’re supplying prescriptions for people to self-import because it’s a harm minimisation approach,” Doctor McNair told SBS. “We can’t guarantee that it’s actually the drug that it says it is, but it’s better than nothing.”

Dr McNair is not aware of any cases where there have been issues with self-importation, “but how would we know? That’s the problem.”

Ostensibly the trials are studying the "uptake of PrEP among eligible individuals" and to investigate whether it’s an effective way of controlling HIV – but they also have the side-effect of increasing and encouraging access to the drug.

Some clinics bulk-bill while others may have a gap, so it’s worth asking what the deal is before booking yourself an appointment.

The trials are for those at highest risk of HIV infection, which includes men who inform their doctors that they have had unprotected receptive anal sex in the last few months, and may do so in the future.

Both women and men with HIV-positive partners are also considered high risk.

More on PrEP:

You should only use PrEP with a valid prescription and after a proper consultation with your doctor – none of the information above is a substitute for proper medical advice.